Increasing the Emphasis on Family Law Lawyering: Correspondent's Report from Canada

Abstract

This is a Canadian Correspondent’s Report to the journal Legal Ethics. The report considers recent reform initiatives that provoke questions about the changing role of the family lawyer and the corresponding impact on lawyers’ ethics. The reforms include proposed amendments to the federal Divorce Act, a pilot project that emphasizes non-adversarial dispute resolution processes in Manitoba, and a growing emphasis on the impact of family violence.

Keywords: Legal Ethics; Family Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Legal Profession; Collaborative Law; Negotiation